Speedoc’s next step forward in medical innovation: Telemedicine

By Dr Shravan Verma,
 
May 11, 2020

Since Speedoc’s launch in 2017, my team and I have been working hard to offer more services so that healthcare continues to remain accessible for all Singaporeans. Our vision has always been to create a one-stop healthcare platform for all medical needs at home. Today, we are pleased to roll out video-consulting via our app to the broader community. With a few clicks on your phone, you can speak to a doctor who can advise you about your medical worries, from the comfort of your home.

A most gratifying journey

Our journey of bringing the hospital to the home has been most rewarding. In just three years, we’ve put together packages that make it easier and safer to vaccinate your children at home, manage your chronic illnesses, arrange for A&E procedures like wound dressings to be done at home, and even offer subsidies for home-bound elderly patients to receive long-term medical care. By adding video consultations to our offering, we make the patient journey smoother and more convenient; remote medical care is now within everyone’s reach.

So what is telemedicine exactly and why is important?

Telemedicine sounds like a buzzword, but it is a simple and increasingly popular concept. With telemedicine, doctors provide clinical consultations to patients using electronic or online communication tools. This means that there is no need for any in-person visits and everything is done remotely from your computer or smartphone. Speedoc’s telemedicine service is provided via video call and chat features on our app.

The current pandemic has forced many of us to rethink our habits, from grocery shopping to socializing with friends. This is the same for healthcare. I’ve been called to do more house calls than ever before as more people avoid going to GP clinics and hospitals.

It is unlikely that this demand will peter out. After all, our population continues to age, and with more seniors struggling with chronic conditions today, the need for accessible healthcare will only rise. In fact, since the start of April 2020, patients can use medical subsidies like CHAS and Medisave to cover the costs of their regular follow-up appointments for chronic conditions through telemedicine. I think this is a step in the right direction and can only suggest a shift in the way Singaporeans utilize our healthcare resources.

Why should you consider telemedicine with Speedoc? The most obvious benefits of telemedicine include time management, convenience and social distancing:

  • Time management – Spend your time doing other important tasks rather than waiting in a clinic.

  • Convenience – No need to queue to see a doctor. A video consultation booking with Speedoc can connect you to a doctor within minutes.

  • Social distancing – During the Covid-19 circuit breaker, accessing medical care remotely keeps you away from hospitals and clinics where the risk of infection may be high.

  • The Speedoc Advantage: If your Speedoc doctor feels an in-person diagnosis is needed for your condition, we can seamlessly arrange for a home visit so you don’t need to travel to a clinic yourself.

Long term benefits of telemedicine include improved personalisation, quality of care, and lower costs:

When should you use telemedicine?

I’ve found that telemedicine is typically used for remote follow-up appointments, post-hospitalization care, chronic diseases management, and more. However, as our needs and habits change, more and more people are using remote consultations to see their doctors for milder symptoms. I would recommend telemedicine for ailments such as:

Of course, the above list is non-exhaustive. If you feel as though you have a minor symptom not listed above and would like to see a doctor via telemedicine, you are more than welcome to book a consultation with us. However, if you display any of the following symptoms, I urge you to seek urgent medical care by either calling 995 of visiting the nearest emergency department:

  • Breathing difficulties

  • Chest pains

  • Choking

  • Speech difficulties or impairments

  • Weakness in arms or legs

  • Loss of consciousness

  • Seizures

  • Broken bones

  • Suicidal intent

How does our telemedicine service work?

We’ve always strived to make our service accessible to everyone. That’s why booking a telemedicine appointment with us is simple and fuss-free. You can do it via our app (downloadable on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store) or by calling +65 8180 8948.

Once you make a request for a telemedicine appointment either through a call or the app, our dispatcher will call you to follow-up and confirm your appointment time. This whole process will only take a few minutes. You will receive an in-app notification around 20 minutes before the scheduled appointment.

During the allocated appointment time, Speedoc’s doctor will initiate the in-app call and conduct the consultation based on your symptoms. After the session, the doctor will prescribe you the necessary medicine, medical certificates, referral letters or memos as discussed. I like to think of the entire process as just like seeing a doctor at the clinic, except that you don’t have to leave the house at all!

I’m excited for you to experience our telemedicine services. If you have any questions or would like to try it out for yourself, please check out our webpage here.

You can also find out more about our full range of medical services, including our house-call doctors and on-demand ambulances, on our website here.

This article was written by Dr Shravan Verma, Founder and CEO of Speedoc.